About the job

Job summary

As our Security Strategy Manager, you will protect the assets, people and places integral to delivering the UK’s Nuclear capability. This is a stretching G7 role with significant exposure to complex security challenges in a unique operational environment. The role would suit an experienced security professional with proven experience of operating across organisational boundaries to deliver improved security outcomes across information (including cyber), personnel and physical domains.

The postholder will: develop and implement a Security Strategy; review the Submarine Directorate operating model for security and make recommendations for improvements; and will support the Director Submarines in discharging their responsibilities to provide personal oversight at 2* level for security and resilience compliance and best practice, and the identification, reporting and mitigation of Security risk.

The postholder will need to ensure that they remain up to date with security related developments, regulations (including nuclear security regulations) and best practice both within the department and externally.

The post will be based in London Main Building, with the expectation of regular travel to Portsmouth NCHQ and occasional travel to other defence locations including HMNB Clyde and Devonport.

The postholder reports to the Deputy Director for Change (SCS1*) who in turn reports to the Director Submarines. Initially the postholder will not have line management responsibilities but this is subject to the outcome of the work to develop the security operating model for the Directorate.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

The postholder will:

• Develop and implement a Directorate focused security strategy, in support of Navy Command and Defence Nuclear Enterprise Risk Frameworks.
• Own the operating model for the security functions in the Directorate – in collaboration with key stakeholders, review and update to improve outcomes and align with policy updates and best practice.
• Undertake thematic assessment of security breaches and near misses and pursue opportunities to improve practice in the Directorate.
• Lead or support breach investigations, as required.
• Gather and maintain data on Directorate key security risk and resilience measures (e.g. including reporting and investigation of security incidents, security clearances of personnel, accredited ICT, rates of annual security awareness training, suitably qualified personnel in security posts).
• Provide briefing to the Director Submarines on security related issues – both routine and time critical. Provide briefing to the 2* Submarine Directorate Board. Provide briefing and support to the Chief of Staff (or other nominated individual) representing the Director Submarines at Navy Command Security and Resilience Board meetings.
• Act as Directorate SPOC for the Principal Security Advisers office, coordinating staffing for risks raised by the Directorate and responding to requests for information from wider NCHQ and the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.
• Act as liaison for Project Security Officers for major Directorate Projects, in line with JSP440, liaising with Programme Directors and Programme Managers.
• Attend the Enterprise Security Working Group and Op R Risk and Security Working Group.
• Promote security resilience in the Directorate, including promoting updates to MoD/ Navy security guidance and practice.
• As Branch Security Officer, assist with the general supervision of security standards within the Directorate in Main Building, liaising with other BSOs in the wider group. Responsibilities include processing pass applications, investigating and producing incident reports on security breaches, and ensuring our teams are complying with the latest security policy.

Person specification

Essential Experience:

• Experience of developing and implementing security strategies in complex operating environments.
• Experience of assuring effective security measures/ controls are in place and putting in place remedial action as required.
• Experience of producing briefing for boards and senior leaders.
• Experience of working in a highly controlled security environment.
• Experience of working through others to strengthen security measures.

Desirable Experience

• A recognised security management qualification
• Knowledge of nuclear security regulations and their application to security practice, or able to demonstrate experience of applying security regulations which are specific to a defined operating context.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,670, Ministry of Defence contributes £15,570 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Applications will be sifted on experience, behaviours and technical skills. Interviews will test technical skills through a presentation and behaviours and strengths through questions.

CV: Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

You will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours at both Application and Interview:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving

You will be assessed against the following Technical Skills at both Application and Interview:

• Risk understanding and mitigation (Practitioner)
• Legal and regulatory environment and compliance (Practitioner)

Reference : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-government-security-profession-career-framework

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical.

The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.